Bell counters Telus’ $99 smartphone plan

It looks like actual value is going to be offered to Canadian smartphone users in time for Christmas because Bell is going to match Telus’ amazing $99 smartphone plan. Created in anticipation of large sales of the BlackBerry Storm, both Canadian CDMA-come-HSDPA carriers are offering up plans consisting of the following:

1,000 daytime minutes (unused airtime from Bell rolls over to the next month)

Unlimited evenings and weekends after 9pm

Call display

Voicemail

Unlimited SMS

Unlimited email and data

Unlimited BlackBerry Messenger and IM

To many living outside of Canada these plans might not seem like a lot, but in the pathetically uncompetitive and monopolistic Canadian wireless marketplace this is a huge leap towards progress. Huge!